Welcome to the Start in Sturgeon Blog. Check here often for great articles about the County's Economic Development and other relevant issues.

There is no doubt that the plunging oil prices have caused
concerns among industries that are linked to the energy sector. Is it all doom
and gloom as some would lead us to believe? My answer is an emphatic no. My
perception from visiting firms linked to the energy sector indicates mixed
impacts. Indeed, some companies have scaled back and put new plans for capital
projects on hold while others are forging ahead and capitalizing on lower
construction costs resulting from a more competitive labour market. Obviously, the
metal fabrication sector will continue to thrive because existing industrial
facilities will need to maintain and replace old machinery and parts.

I toured McSween Custom Fabricating's facility in Sturgeon
Industrial Park a week ago and their mood spells optimism even in the midst of
changes within the energy sector. McSween
Custom Fabricating is an industrial fabrication and construction company that
has been serving industrial plants in Alberta since 1980. The company
was started as a family business by two brothers that were involved in the
trades. It evolved through the years, expanding its client base after it was
purchased by its current owner, Nelson Martin. McSween’s expertise covers a broad range of industries, which include
petrochemical, fertilizer, cement, mining, pharmaceutical and power generation.The company
has two shops; a main shop with 28,000 square feet which is their custom
fabrication shop with 15 employees. This shop is involved in fabricating
vessels and custom forming, shearing and rolling. The second shop of 10
employees is a pipe products shop which is 12,000 square feet fabricates
process pressure piping of any alloy.

McSween
Fabricating also employs 18 people that are capable of providing project management
services, engineering and design. It also has a field
maintenance division consisting of 70 people of various trades, pipe fitters, pressure
welders, millwrights, boilermakers and iron workers that provide maintenance
support to the industrial sector.

McSween
has built a great reputation on high quality and flexibility when it comes to
difficult projects. Inside one of the facilities, there were large pipes and
vessels that were being worked on. I wondered how these giant, heavy pieces
ever leave the shop. It turns out that the shops are equipped with multi five
ton overhead cranes and the large overhead doors are designed for the finished pieces
to exit the shop.

I
also learned a couple of interesting facts about welding. When two pieces of
metal are welded; scorching temperatures of around 5,500 degrees Celsius (9,900
degrees Fahrenheit are used). The sparks that result can be as hot as 1,300
degrees Celsius (2,500 degrees Fahrenheit) so needless to say, I was sure to
stand clear! The finished pipes and vessels also undergo testing for strength
and leaks. The test involves filling the vessel or pipe system with a liquid,
usually water, which may be dyed to spot leaks more easily. Vessels are
pressurized to a specified test pressure at which point, instruments measure
pressure loss. The strength of a vessel is usually tested by measuring the
deformities of the container. These tests are conducted in front of clients to
ensure that their project is compliant with all stated specifications and
standards.

I
enjoyed my visit with McSween Custom Fabricating and I have new admiration for
engineers that design and build stable and durable structures that keep Alberta’s economy
humming. You can also learn more on how engineered technologies sustain our
economy by visiting the Western Manufacturing
Technology Show. This event will be hosted in Edmonton from June 15-17, 2015. The show is geared towards the needs of manufacturers in
Alberta and throughout Western Canada in industries ranging from oil and gas,
industrial and commercial machinery, construction, mining, agriculture, wind
energy and aerospace.

The show will provide access to
state-of-the-art manufacturing equipment, educational sessions and networking
opportunities. It is
designed to be a one-stop, all-encompassing venue for the latest technologies
and trends in machine tools, tooling and accessories, metal fabrication, design,
automation and assembly, advanced manufacturing, plant maintenance and process
control, so if you’re interested, visit the Edmonton EXPO Centre at the
Northlands, Halls F, G & H, 7515-118 Avenue, Edmonton. Get more information from the event website at: www.wmts.ca.